Improvement in invalid-chairs



G. L. STEVENS.

Invalid-Chair.

No. 221,124. Patented Oct. 28,1879.

and ratchetdevices.

UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFIGE- OASSIUS L. STEVENS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT m" INVALID-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,121, dated October 28, 1879; application filed May 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GASSIUS L. STEVENS, of Pittsburg, ,in the county of Allegheny and State of .Pennsylval'iia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in InvalidChairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawin s formin )art of this siecification in 7 o l which Figure 1 is a View of my improved folding chair arranged as a bed 01; lounge. Fig. 2 is a view'of the devices adjusted to form a reclining-chair. Fig. 3 is a view of the devices arranged to form an ordinary straight-backed chair. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the arms Fig. 5 is a detached view of the hinge-connections. Fig. 6 is a side view of the chair folded for transportation.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of adjustable invalid-chairs; and it consists, first, in the combination, with a chair-frame, of arms pivoted thereto, and each having an externallynotched segment, pawl-bar levers mounted upon horizontal pivots on the sides of the frame, and a pawl-bar connecting the pawlbarlevers and adapted to engage with theiexternally-notch'ed seginen ts,whcreby a compact, easily folded and manipulated ratchet mechanism 'for controlling the chair-back .is obtaincd; secondly, in ahinge for connecting the parts of the chair, said hinge having flanges or angle-pieces which brace the chair-frame, and provided with lugs for pivoting the chairlegs, so that the attachment for thelegs may be made at those points where the frame is most thoroughly braced, thereby attaining durability with simplicity and cheapness of construction.

Heretofore, in the construction of this class of adj ustable reclinin g-chairs, the ratchet mechanism has in general consisted of a pawl and ratchet-bar, the pawl usually attached to the arm of thechair and the ratchet-bar to the seat; but such devices are liable to catch the clothing or like drapery, and are more or less limited and difficult of adjustment by persons occupying the chair.

In some instances the arms of the chair have had attached thereto segmental racks, one

notched externally and the other internally, I

and in. such cases there has been employed therewith a bar or lever pivoted below the chair-bottom, its end projecting through the internally-notched segment, and in conjuction therewith a spring which held the lever in the notches of the segment but such a construction is objectionable, first, because it is com plicated and is only adapted to a chair having cross-slats in or below the bed; secondly, be-

.sightly frames necessarily used with the ordi= nary hinges to obtain strength and durability; but metallic frames are objectionable both on account of weight and cost.

The object of the prescntinvention is to construct such chairs so as to overcome the objec tions specified, facilitate the adjustment of the I back by the occupant of the chair, improve the shape and finish, and reduce the cost of manufacture.

I will now proceedflto describe my invention,- I so that others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains may apply the same. 1

In the drawings, A indicates the back, B the seat, and G the foot-rest, the frames at b c for which parts may be of a light, strong, substantial wood, caned as usual.

The several sections are connected by hinges D of such general form as will permit the parts to be folded upon each other for transporta tion. .These hinges'D may be of wrought-iron or other suitable metal, but are preferably mal= leable castings, because the same are cheaper and equally efficient.

Each hinge D has two rectangular body portions, d, adapted to embrace and support the frames to which the hinges are secured by rivets, screws, or equivalentfastenings, and

one of said sections in each hinge is provided rest, said rack engaging with the connectingbar of the front legs of the chair.

F indicates a pivoted brace-rack for the feet, and G the pivoted legs for supporting the back A when the chair is extended to form a couch.

H H indicate the arms, the portion H being pivoted to the seat-frame B, as at h, and consisting of the segment of a circle notched to form a ratchet, h, with which engages a pawl rod or bar, 11, carried by two pawl-bar levers, I, one pivoted on each side of the seat-frame 13, preferably within the segment of the arm, as shown at i.

These devices are ornamental and will admit of as extended movement of the back as is desirable in a recliningchair.

The devices above described are employed as follows: For a lounge or couch the back and foot-rest are extended in line with the seat, as shown in Fig. 1, the back being supported by the swinging legs G, and the foot-rest by the rack-bar E. For a reclining-chair the back is raised to the desired angle with the seat B, and there secured by the pawl-bar i, which ongages with the ratchet h on the segment of the arm H, and the foot-rest is lowered and readjusted by means of its rack-bar E. If no foot-rest is required the rack-bar E is turned forward into line with the frame of foot-rest O, and the foot-rest is then turned over on the seat B, the folding of the chair being completed by releasing the pawl-rod i and turning the back A down on the foot-rest C, after which the brace-rods 0 may be loosened and the legs folded down, making acompaet article for transportation, as shown in Fig. 6. The chair may be provided with cushions or upholstered in any desired manner.

The advantages of my invention are light ness, symmetry, and reduced cost of construction.

I am aware that two segments, one notched internally and the other externally, have been attached to chair-arms, and used in combination with a pivoted bar engaging with the two sections, and also that a butt-hinge with flange or leaves to screw upon the face and edge of a door and upon the edge and face of a-jamb have heretofore been devised, and do not claim the same, as the rack mechanism is complicated, costly, and disadvantageous for the reasons before specified, and the hinge would, if so constructed, prevent the proper attachment and bracing of the chair-legs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the chair-frame, the arms pivoted thereto, and each havingan externally-notched segment, the pawl-bar levers mounted upon horizontal pivots on the side of the frame, and the pawl-bar connecting the pawl-bar lever of one side to that of the other side, and engaging simultaneously with both segments, substan tially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A hinge for reclining or folding chairs, said hinge having the rectangular body or frame pieces, and the lug for pivoting the leg thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I, the said GAssIUS L. STEVENS, have hereunto set my hand.

CASSIUS L. STEVENS.

Witnesses F. W. BITTER, J12, A. O. J OHNSTON. 

